Does AutoIT have "labels"? How to return to code line "X"

[xuzo]

This is pretty hard to explain but I'll try to make it as clear as possilbe!

When doing a loop, the code will go back to the first line, how to make it go back to not the beginnig but further down in the script?

For $i = 1 To 2 Step 1
;step one code line 1
MsgBox(0, "Title", "This is the line 2 of the code")
;step two code line 3
MsgBox(0, "Title", "This is the line 4 of the code")
;step three code line 5
MsgBox(0, "Title", "This is the line 6 of the code")
;step 4 code line 7
MsgBox(0, "Title", "This is the line 8 of the code")
;what could I use to return to line of code 4 instead of 1?
Next

I can do this is Vista Task studio but wondering if AutoIT can do it also? Here is the help file from the other software, it's also based on Visual Basics I think:

GOTO Label

Jumps to a label. The label can come before or after this command (anywhere in the script). User Variables (such as "%label") may be used as the destination. Labels that are skipped will not be used as a destination.

You can jump directly to a hard-coded step (without defining a Label) by using the {STEP1}, {STEP2}, etc. system variables. These system variables are only accessed by the Goto Label action. If you move steps around, the Goto Label will still jump to the same step.

"Goto Label" serves the same purpose as a GOTO programming statement - it immediately goes to the indicated step. If the specified label does not exist, a warning is displayed and execution stops.

[water]

AutoIt has no "Goto". If you want to repeat only some code in the loop set a flag and execute the code depending on the flag.

[czardas]

There are different methods. The code below shows two possibie methods.

For $i = 0 To 1 ; Loops twice
    MsgBox(0, "Title", "This is the line 1")
    For $j = 0 To 1 ; Nested loop method
        MsgBox(0, "Title", "This is the line 2")
        MsgBox(0, "Title", "This is the line 3")
    Next
    MsgBox(0, "Title", "This is the line 4")
    _Lines5and6() ; Call a function method
    MsgBox(0, "Title", "This is the line 7")
Next

Func _Lines5and6()
    Local $iCount = 0 ; counter
    Do
        MsgBox(0, "Title", "This is the line 5")
        MsgBox(0, "Title", "This is the line 6")
        $iCount += 1 ; Increment the counter
    Until $iCount = 2
EndFunc

Edited July 8, 2012 by czardas

[xuzo]

Thanks guys,

I've simplified the code above so I can understand better like this:

MsgBox(0, "Title", "1")
_flagY();GOTO line 10 of code
MsgBox(0, "Title", "2")
_flagX() ;GOTO line 7 of code
MsgBox(0, "Title", "3")
Func _flagX();Set Flag to line 7
    MsgBox(0, "Title", "4")
EndFunc   ;==>_flagX
Func _flagY();Set Flag to line 10
    MsgBox(0, "Title", "5")
EndFunc   ;==>_flagY

Althought this works fine, seems a little complicated...

Water said:

set a flag and execute the code depending on the flag

I've searched for "flag" in help file but nothing there, any clear and very simple example of working with flags?

Or maybe the way I did it up there is already the easiest way?

Thanks

Edited July 9, 2012 by xuzo

[water]

A "flag" is a simple variable. The content tells you what to do. You decide what the content and the meaning of the content is.

$iFlag = 1
While 1
    If $iFlag = 1 Then
        ; Your code
        $iFlag = $iFlag +1
   EndIf
    If $iFlag = 2 Then
        ; Your code
        ExitLoop
   EndIf
WEnd

Runs the loop 2 times executing different code and then exits (I know it can be done much easiert - but it's just to show how "flags" work).

[xuzo]

Hi Water,

Thanks for the tip, I've interpretated this way:

$myvariable = 1
While 1
If $myvariable = 1 Then
MsgBox(0, "title", "The variable equals 1")
EndIf

$myvariable = $myvariable + 1

If $myvariable = 2 Then
MsgBox(0, "title", "The variable equals 2")
ExitLoop
EndIf
WEnd

so basically $iflag can be anything? Additionally, why are there often some "i"s right after the dollar sign? Is that a convention?

Edited July 9, 2012 by xuzo

[water]

Yes, The i and others are a convention mostly used in UDFs to show you the data type of the content. i means integer, s is for strings etc.

Details can be found here.

[water]

[xuzo]

Wow!

Thanks for the link

Will look at that list over a few beers in my regular bar in Thailand a little later, will save it for my Kindle!

[czardas]

LOL I deleted my last post because water got there first.

xuzo, you need to stop thinking in terms of GoTo. The point is that functions replaced GoTo, at least in AutoIt. Here's another idea. You can step backwards in a loop, but be careful you don't end up in an infinite loop.

$iFlag = 0
For $i = 1 To 4
    MsgBox(0, "Title", "Index = " & $i)
    If $i = 3 And $iFlag < 4 Then
        $i -= 2
        $iFlag += 1
    EndIf
Next

Edited July 9, 2012 by czardas

[water]

Will look at that list over a few beers in my regular bar in Thailand a little later ...

Thailand, beer, bar? I will come over and explain everything in detail over a few beers

[xuzo]

Hi Water,

Yes that would be cool indeed, actually if anybody from this forum ever comes to Pattaya send me a PM!

Cheers!